Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia has significantly narrowed its visa-free entry scheme under its "selective immigration" policy, shifting its focus from attracting large numbers of foreign visitors to welcoming those who can contribute to the economy while posing no threat to national security.
According to the Indonesian Directorate General of Immigration, nearly 53,000 visa-free arrivals were recorded in the first half of this year, down almost 88% from the same period in 2025.
Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the move forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen immigration management through digitalisation and enhanced screening of foreign nationals upon entry.
Meanwhile, Indonesia issued about 3.9 million visas during the six-month period, down 6.8% year-on-year. Visas on arrival accounted for the largest share, with nearly 3.5 million issued, followed by single-entry tourist visas (C1), visas for foreign technical experts (C20), and 143 Golden Visas granted to investors and global talent.
Despite the decline in visa-free arrivals and visa issuances, revenue from visa services rose 6.4% year-on-year to 2.81 trillion IDR (156 million USD), reflecting the country's emphasis on the quality rather than the quantity of foreign visitors.
Australia remained Indonesia's largest source market, with nearly 849,000 arrivals, followed by China, India, the Republic of Korea and the US.
Indonesia also stepped up enforcement against immigration violations. In the first half of the year, authorities imposed more than 10,900 administrative sanctions, including the revocation of residence permits and deportation of over 3,260 foreign nationals for violating regulations or posing security risks. More than 2,100 individuals were also added to the country's immigration blacklist.
Marantoko said Indonesia is no longer pursuing the highest possible number of international visitors but instead seeks to build a selective immigration system that balances economic development, service quality and national security./.
